New install method saves Costa Mesa Sanitary District more than $700,000

The Costa Mesa Sanitary District saved more than $700,000 when it installed an estimated 3,000 feet of polyethylene pipe near the Newport Beach Back Bay recently, said General Manager Scott Carroll.

Aiming to replace an aging stretch of pipe on the brink of failure, the district had originally budgeted its replacement for $1 million. But a new method of installing the replacement pipe cut the project's cost by more than two-thirds, according to a district media release.

The new installation will last another 50 to 75 years, Carroll said.

The district also installed overflow sensors in more than 1,000 of the city's manhole covers, giving them an early warning system ahead of possible overflowing that could come from heavy rains or a system failure.

More than $1 million is also budgeted to install by-pass bump generators throughout the district's 21 pump stations, ensuring that water flow can continue for up to 72 hours in case of a power outage, Carroll said. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.